Words have been making me pause and consider definitions lately. Ever feel like you are getting dumber by the year? I can't decide if I used to have a more sophisticated vocabulary (I don't recall ever having to look THAT much up), or I'm just aware of more words now and thus get puzzled more often.
The word "flotsam" came up somewhere...in a book maybe? It's been stuck in my mind to look up, as I wasn't sure exactly what it meant. I finally did. I think the context I heard it in meant "useless odds and ends."
The djs this morning were talking about the word "cynical" and started debating the difference in the meanings of "skeptical," "cynical" and "jaded." I need to figure out exactly what differentiates each of those, as there were many situations they brought up where I wasn't sure which word best fit. There were some where one clearly fit better than the others, but then other situations where all three seemed to be reasonable choices.
Any words puzzling you lately?
8 comments:
Frody used a word somewhere recently that I had to look up. I was glad that it was an official "Frody" word and not a "Lauren" word, although I'm sure one day it will be a Lauren word and one day soon.
I specifically recall having to look up the word, "feckless" during the Survivor finale, and I was upset that it was Shambo who used a word I didn't understand. But then again, it was Shambo.
I look up words all the time before I use them to make sure they mean what I think they mean. (And also to make sure I'm spelling them right.) A lot of the time I think a word sounds right and then I look it up to be sure and find that it doesn't mean what I think it means.
I looked up "de rigueur" on Monday. Fortunately I was using it correctly so I went ahead with it.
Shambo used "feckless?" Wow. I probably had to look that up at one point, but I've read it in books enough to know what it means now. However, it definitely isn't a word that would just pop out of my mouth.
Color me impressed with "de rigueur." Does it mean with rigor? I would assume it's french/italian/latin for that, but I'm probably wrong. I figured I'd just admit I didn't know it instead of looking it up and pretending I did.
No, "de rigueur" means "required by fashion, etiquette, or custom."
The actual sentence in which I used it was, "Meh, flaming bags of poo in my inbox are de rigueur these days. You'll have to set something much more interesting on fire to get my attention."
I used it in place of "the norm" because I liked the contrast of the high falutin' french with the word poo.
Now that you say that, it does seem familiar to me. Thanks, Fro, now I can sound high falutin', too!
*snort* I would not have guessed that was how you were using it. You have interesting correspondence in your email. Mine now seems very bland. Wait, um, I mean affable.
Ha! Flotsom is stuff that floats away after a boat sinks, or is thrown overboard so the boat won't sink. It flo(a)ts, lol.
I like to look up words I don't know in my big, fat, unabridged Webster's paper dictionary. I hate looking words up on line even though it is quick & easy. The paper dictionary is much more satisfying. And I love etymological info which wiki is weak on, and other engines want you to specifically ask for. Give me a few column inches of dictionary and I am happy as can be.
coppice
militate
Have you tried dictionary.com, Swami? I lurve it. You'll get all your etymology there. More than the normal dictionary even gives you (it also takes some pieces from the encyclopedia).
I looked both of your fancy words up, and can't imagine myself using the word coppice ever. By the time I move or have a coppice in my yard, I'll forget about the word.
Militate...I like it! I can use that in my work writing.
I've always been good at spelling, but now words look "funny" to me and I'm not sure if they're spelled right.
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